Opta Stats: Chelsea v Sunderland

"Chelsea have won 15 of their last 16 Premier League clashes with Sunderland, losing the other. The Blues are 1.748/11 to win to nil."

Paolo Di Canio kicks off his managerial reign at relegation-threatened Sunderland against a Chelsea side aiming to secure a Champions League spot.

Sunderland have won none of their last eight Barclays Premier League matches (D3 L5). A Chelsea win is available at 1.374/11.

Chelsea have won 15 of their last 16 Premier League clashes with Sunderland, losing the other. The Blues are 1.748/11 to win to nil.

The Black Cats' only victory over Chelsea in the league since the end of March 2001 came at Stamford Bridge when they won 3-0 in November 2010. A Sunderland victory can be backed at 12.011/1.

Chelsea are unbeaten in five league matches at Stamford Bridge, winning each of the last four. The double result of Chelsea half-time/Chelsea full-time is priced at 2.01/1.

Fernando Torres has scored six times against Sunderland in the Premier League, including a double in the last meeting between the two. They are his joint favourite opponents (along with West Ham). Torres is 1.910/11 to find the net.

Paolo Di Canio will become the fifth manager (incl. caretakers) to start his time in a Premier League job with a trip to Stamford Bridge. None of the previous four have managed to win (D1 L3). Di Canio's Sunderland are 5.39/2 to become the second newly managed side to grab a draw.

Only Manchester United (13) have scored more headed goals than Chelsea this season (12). Chelsea are 1.051/20 to score a goal.

Sunderland have conceded a league-low four headed goals in the league this season. The Black Cats are 8.07/1 to keep a clean sheet.

John Terry scored his 30th league goal last weekend. Sunderland are one of three teams he has scored against three times (along with Charlton and Arsenal). Terry is 29.028/1 to score the first goal. 

The Black Cats have picked up one point from the three games they have played without Steven Fletcher this season (D1 L2). They are 3.39/4 to be relegated.

Without Fletcher's goals, Sunderland would be rock bottom of the Premier League table with just 21 points from their 31 games. Sunderland are eight points off the bottom of the table and available at 42.041/1 to finish last.

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Premier League Result: Fletcher fires for Sunderland in away win

The result was sealed when Stephane Sessegnon scored the goal of the match with a fantastic strike from outside the box.

Martin O'Neill's men pick up rare away win as Hangeland sending off proves crucial in Craven Cottage clash... 

Steven Fletcher scored his sixth goal of the season as Sunderland were matched at 5.95/1 on their way to valuable 3-1 away win over Fulham.

After a dour first-half, in which the one notable incident was Brede Hangeland's sending off for a foul on Lee Cattermole, the Scottish striker put the Black Cats ahead. 

The hosts hit back, however, when Damien Duff set up Mladen Petric to equalise from close range.

Sunderland were determined to make their one man advantage count and Carlos Cuellar headed them back in to the lead only three minutes later.

The result was sealed when Stephane Sessegnon scored the goal of the match with a fantastic strike from outside the box.

It was a splendid result for the away side, for whom this was a first win for seven matches, and there was plenty to cheer too for those who backed 1-3 at 110.00109/1 in the correct score market. 

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Premier League: Are Sunderland the new Newcastle?

Sunderland look big at 3.45n/a against Liverpool.

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Sunderland to beat Liverpool at 3.45n/a
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Andrew Atherley has been impressed by Sunderland's start to the season, he holds their manager in high esteem and reckons the Black Cats are value to pile more misery on Liverpool this Saturday...

Sunderland, like neighbours Newcastle last season, could be surprise high achievers this season and they look capable of proving the point at home to Liverpool on Saturday. There are interesting parallels between Sunderland's form under Martin O'Neill and how Newcastle stood at this time last season. Like O'Neill now, Alan Pardew was starting his first full season as Newcastle boss having taken charge early the previous December and stabilised their results.

Both managers had achieved flashes of even better form with good results against top-six sides, pointing to further improvement with a summer of preparation and squad-building behind them. O'Neill did even better than Pardew in his first part-season, with an average of 1.42 points per game (Pardew's was 1.23). Without any improvement in that points average, Sunderland would finish this season in the top half of the table.

But the underlying form indicates Sunderland might be able to aim towards the top six. There was a big split in their form last season, which appears to have been caused by their FA Cup quarter-final exit against Everton in March. Prior to that, Sunderland had been flying under O'Neill with a Premier League points average of 1.81 per game.

Afterwards, however, Sunderland were caught in the classic trap of a mid-table side with nothing tangible to play for and they appeared to ease off, failing to win in the eight Premier League games that followed their FA Cup exit. The late-season slump dragged down their points average and a return to their previous higher level would make them dangerous opponents for any team, as they lost only five of O'Neill's first 16 Premier League games.

Having started with away draws at Arsenal and Swansea, Sunderland look just as solid this season and they have added quality in attack with the signings of Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson. On their form under O'Neill, and with the prospect of further improvement, Sunderland look big at 3.45n/a against Liverpool.

Liverpool's players know as well as anyone how tough Sunderland have become under O'Neill, as they lost 1-0 at the Stadium of Light shortly before the Black Cats played that crunch FA Cup tie against Everton. That victory is part of a home league record of six wins, four draws and just two defeats for O'Neill's Sunderland (the two losses coming against Manchester United and Arsenal). Liverpool may well have to play like a potential top-four side to beat Sunderland and, given their sticky start under Brendan Rodgers, they look a considerable way from that standard at the moment.

Liverpool, in fact, have lost eight out of 11 on the road in the Premier League in 2012. They won the other three but only against Wolves, Blackburn and Norwich (two of whom were relegated last season). Backing them at 2.3411/8 against a potential top-half side looks risky.

One option is Sunderland off 0 & +0.5 on the Asian handicap at 1.9210/11, which offers insurance against Sunderland's high draw rate, but the win odds look worth chancing.

Pick of the stats

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Norwich have kept just three clean sheets in 41 Premier League games since promotion and have won only five out of 17 when conceding at home

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Villa have won only two of their 22 league games in 2012, with 10 defeats

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Stoke are unbeaten in five home games in league and cup against City since promotion. Four of the five have been draws

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Opta Stats: Manchester City v Sunderland

Opta / Richard / 29 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Roberto Mancini's side can ill-afford another slip up in the league

Manchester City look set to continue their extraordinary run at Eastlands, this time at the expense of Sunderland...

Sunderland have drawn 99 top-flight games in the Premier League era and lost 199. Match odds

Manchester City have won 24 of their last 25 Premier League home games including the last 20 in a row. Match odds

Roberto Mancini's side have kept six clean sheets in their last eight Premier League home games. Man City clean sheet?

Sunderland's last two wins over Man City have been by a 1-0 scoreline with the only goal being a 90th minute winner. Correct score

Carlos Tevez has scored a penalty in each of the last two meetings between these two sides at the Etihad Stadium.

82% of the goals Manchester City have conceded have come in the second half of games, the highest proportion in the top flight and they haven't conceded a first half goal since December against Chelsea. Sunderland total goals

18% of the goals Sunderland have conceded have been shipped in the opening 15 minutes of games, the joint-highest proportion in the top flight. First goals odds

Nicklas Bendtner has scored in three of his last four Premier League games and also in his last appearance at the Etihad Stadium in a 3-0 over City.

The Black Cats have won just one of their last five Premier League away games (W1 D1 L3). Match odds

Sunderland have had players sent off in three of their last five Premier League visits to the Etihad Stadium. Sending off?

Blackburn might have won at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign but they won't repeat the feat this time round......

Tottenham are in desperate need of three points if they are to hold on to fourth spot......

Liverpool head to Tyneside on the back of desperate defeats to QPR and latterly Wigan......

Time is running out for rock-bottom Wolves and a win against fellow strugglers Bolton is an absolute must......

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Sunderland v Everton Bets: This could go the distance

FA Cup / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 26 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Tim'll fix it. Cahill loves playing Sunderland.

"Still, I can’t ignore that stat that says Sunderland haven’t found a way to beat Everton over the years so a lay of the hosts at 2.5 is the bet."

These are two of the most evenly-matched teams in the country and splitting them isn't easy, so bet accordingly. But if it goes all the way to penalties, there's only one team to side with, says Jamie Pacheco.

Match Odds

There's not much to choose between these two whichever way you look at it. I'm not sure who I'd take between Martin O'Neill and David Moyes as a manager. They're tied on points in the league table; they have squads of similar strength; they both won at the weekend; and they drew 1-1 on both occasions they've played this season, the latest of which was at Goodison Park ten days ago. The same match that means we've got a replay here. Furthermore, Opta tell us that it's three draws from the last four between these two.

But a further stat from our number crunching-friends sticks out like a sore thumb. Everton have gone on an amazing run of 16 matches without tasting defeat against their north-eastern opponents. Even if we consider that O'Neill is probably a better manager than anyone else Sunderland had in charge during that time and that this probably a stronger XI than they've had throughout most of that period, that record against Tuesday night's opponents must be at the back of hosts' minds somewhere.

Moyes' decision to play a weakened side against Liverpool to spare his players for their big FA Cup tie four days later backfired in more ways than one. Not only did he lose that match convincingly but the same players who had been given the night off looked rusty rather than rested for the FA Cup game.

No repeat of that this time round. The Scot picked his best possible team for Saturday's trip to Swansea and his reward was a 2-0 win over a side who had won their last four league matches, which included the scalp of then league leaders Manchester City. I'd expect a very similar team to start again on Tuesday night, though Marouane Felliani might get the nod over Darren Gibson in the heart of midfield, just to add a little more bite.

Lee Cattermole is still suspended after his sending-off at home to Newcastle for showing a little too much bite and an equal amount of stupidity and lack of self-restraint. Whoever Moyes decides to play at right-back (either Tony Hibbert or Phil Neville) would be well-advised to drink a nice mug of camomile tea before they go to bed or take something else to help them sleep. The prospect of having to contain the impressive James McClean doesn't make for a restful night's sleep.

Still, I can't ignore that stat that says Sunderland haven't found a way to beat Everton over the years so a lay of the hosts at [2.5] is the bet.

Method of Victory

With the draw such a strong runner in terms of the outcome after 90 minutes, it may pay to speculate as to what might happen if this game does go beyond 90 minutes. The team who is distinctly fitter or has superior options on the bench has the better chance of winning it.

But once again, we find it hard to split these two teams when it comes to that either, so I'm not sure we'd find a winner after even 120 minutes. Onto penalties we go and here it's Everton who are clearly the stronger of the two. In 2009 they knocked Manchester United out of the FA on penalties at Wembley and last year they knocked out Chelsea in the same competition at Stamford Bridge, again on penalties. Sunderland's memories of shoot-outs aren't so great. In 2009 they went out of the Carling Cup by this method against Aston Villa and in 2004 they fell at the final hurdle when up against Ian Dowie's Crystal Palace for the right to be promoted to the Premier League. Tim Howard's experience of handling the occasion may be the difference if this match does indeed go the distance. Everton are [14.0] to win on penalties.

First Goalscorer

Gone are the days when Tim Cahill seemed to score every other week with a trademark header after a late run into the box. His return of just one goal from almost 30 starts in the league is proof of that. But he certainly likes playing Sunderland and has scored three times against them in his last five matches, including the equaliser ten days ago in this same fixture. He'll be around [10.0] to open the scoring which is a far better price than we would have got a few years back and it's worth taking the chance he can come up with the goods when it most matters.

Best Bet

Lay Sunderland @ [2.5]

Recommended Bet

Back Everton to win on penalties in the Qualifying Method market

This will inevitably be a difficult evening for all concerned but Tottenham's goodwill is not likely to extend long beyond the first whistle......

It's been a traumatic weekend and Ralph Ellis, like everybody else, is thinking about Fabrice Muamba and his family. Here, our man considers results in the FA Cup and Premier League......

It was a good day for the Anfield club who got past Stoke and enjoyed a favourable draw...

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FA Cup Opta Stats: Sunderland v Everton

Opta / Richard / 26 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Nikica Jelavic scored the second goal in Everton's 2-0 win at Swansea

The Opta stats suggest Everton are still on track to meet Liverpool in the last four, despite being held at home...

Everton have made it to the last eight more often than any other side in FA Cup history (41).

These sides have been drawn together 11 times before in the FA Cup, with Everton progressing seven times and Sunderland four.

In FA Cup matches against Sunderland, the Toffees have alternated between scoring one goal and scoring three. For this sequence to continue, they will have to score three on Tuesday night.

The two previous meetings between the two sides this season (one in the Cup, one in the league, have both ended in a 1-1 scoreline.

The two teams have played against each other in three previous FA Cup replays, with Everton winning all three and scoring a total of 11 goals in the process. However, the last of those replay clashes came all the way back in 1958.

Attacking midfielder Tim Cahill has bagged a total of three goals in Everton's last five games against the Black Cats (in all competitions).

Everton are unbeaten in 16 meetings with Sunderland in all competitions (11 wins).

Sunderland have won four of their last six FA Cup replay games, losing just one and progressing on penalties in the other.

In all competitions, Everton have lost just one of their last five away games.

Sunderland have lost just one of their 10 home games in all competitions under Martin O'Neill.

On loan Nicklas Bendtner has hit three goals in his last five games for Sunderland (in all competitions).

This is not a fixture that favours the away side and the Opta stats indicate Bolton's cup run is to end here......

Chelsea may have to rely on their home form again to see them progress......

Robin van Persie, Junior Hoilett, Gylfi Sigurdsson and perhaps even Sylvan Ebanks-Blake could score this weekend, judging by these Opta trends......

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Against All Odds: Kean on goals in Blackburn v Sunderland

Daily Tipping / Paul Robinson / 20 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Blackburn take on Sunderland tonight in an English Premier League clash. The market has under 2.5 goals as odds-on, but six out of Blackburn's last eight at home have gone over. Paul Robinson talks us through his lay of the day.

The Spanish didn't let us down yesterday and delivered the expected goals to get us off to a winning start to the week. Hopefully that can continue and we can have our fourth profitable week in a row.

Blackburn are in 16th place in the table with 25 points from 28 matches. That is a bit of a turnaround for the much-maligned Steve Kean as a couple of months ago they were all but written off and heading to the Championship. He has managed to get his side to pick up some vital victories though, including a 2-0 win at Wolves last time out and also a 3-2 win over QPR in February. At Ewood Park, Rovers have lost just one of their last four and the protests against the manager seem to have quietened down in recent weeks. One thing you can almost guarantee with Blackburn is goals; 40 scored and 60 conceded, their games are averaging 3.57 goals, and six of their last eight at home have gone over 2.5. Striker Yakubu is back in the mix after a recent suspension and star player David 'Junior' Hoilett grabbed a brace in the last match to signify his return to scoring form.

Sunderland have been a completely different outfit since Martin O'Neill took charge earlier in the season. After flirting with the relegation zone under Steve Bruce, O'Neill now has the Black Cats in ninth with 37 points from their 28 fixtures. He has galvanised the squad and they play with much more intensity than before and it has brought about improved results. They have lost just three of their last 12 in the league and they beat Liverpool 1-0 in their last league match. On the road, four of their last eight have gone over 2.5 goals, with three going over 3.5 and two actually going over 4.5. Nicklas Bendtner has found a bit of form in front of goal recently and while their main creative force Stephane Sessegnon is suspended, so is their midfield steel in Lee Cattermole, meaning the defence could be exposed somewhat by an attacking Blackburn side.

I was fully expecting under 2.5 goals to be odds-against, so with it trading at [1.93] I have to make it my lay of the day.

Recommended Bet

Lay Under 2.5 goals in Blackburn v Sunderland @ [1.93]

Jonno Turner is backing two of the clubs involved in the League One relegation battle to claim important victories on Tuesday night......

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The Inside Man picks four under/over 2.5 goals from this weekend's European offerings and he fancies an end-to-end affair when Stoke go to Liverpool...

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FA Cup Results: Sunderland too good for hapless Arsenal

FA Cup / Mike Norman / 18 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Kieran Richardson celebrates Sunderland's opening goal against Arsenal

"Martin O’Neill’s much improved outfit can be backed at [8.8] in the FA Cup Winner market."

Similar to last year, Arsenal's season is falling apart in no time at all thanks to a FA Cup exit at the hands of Sunderland.

Arsenal suffered their second cup disappointment in four days thanks to a 2-0 loss to Sunderland at a blustery Stadium of Light this evening.

After losing 4-0 to AC Milan in midweek - a result that effectively ends their Champions League aspirations - the Gunners knew that the FA Cup was their only realistic chance of silverware this season. But despite an improved passing display Arsene Wenger's men looked disjointed defensively, an aspect of their play that has come in for so much criticism in recent years.

Sunderland took the lead five minutes before the break. An in-swinging free-kick was headed clear by Thomas Vermaelen only for Kieran Richardson to blast the ball goalwards, his shot finding the corner of the net via a slight, but decisive, Sebastien Squillaci deflection.

Richardson was matched for small amounts at [60.0] in the First Goalscorer market and the 1-0 Half Time Score was backed at a high of [8.2] In-Play.

Despite large periods of possession in the second half Arsenal didn't create many clear cut chances and, unfortunately for them, they couldn't call on last week's match winner Thierry Henry to rescue them this time.

The knock-out blow came with just under 15 minutes to go when a fabulous Black Cats counter attack ended with the ball rebounding off the post and into his own net via Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's tangled legs.

Sunderland were matched at a high of [3.8] In-Play for victory, with the 2-0 Correct Score backed at [22.0]. Martin O'Neill's much improved outfit can be backed at [8.8] in the FA Cup Winner market.

Kenny Dalglish knows that the FA Cup represents a decent chance of silverware for Liverpool so he will be taking this tie seriously, says Frank Gregan. But can Brighton take the Reds to a replay?...

Tottenham are understandably strong favourites to win the match but, at the very least Stevenage, should give them a pretty competitive match, says Feizal Rahman....

Blues come from behind to draw at Stamford Bridge as manager is booed by home fans. Meanwhile, Toffees, Trotters and Foxes march on......

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Sunderland seriously over-priced at home to Arsenal

Premier League / Andrew Atherley / 08 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Stephane Sessegnon has bee superb since O'Neill's arrival at Sunderland

"While it is sensible to downgrade Sunderland’s form a little, the recent statistical evidence is that Saturday’s match is more even than the odds indicate."

Sunderland's form since Martin O'Neill has been in charge has been incredible and they're a good bet to get the better of Arsenal on Saturday. Elsewhere, this week's several 'six pointers' will give us a good indication of who's going down come May.

Take a look at the latest Premier League table before rushing to judgment over Saturday's match at the Stadium of Light between Sunderland and Arsenal.
Not the table for the season so far, which has Arsenal in sixth place and Sunderland seven points behind in eighth. Instead, look at the form table in the 10 matches since Martin O'Neill took charge at Sunderland.

That tells a different story. Manchester United are top but Sunderland are behind them only on goal difference, with Manchester City third and Tottenham fourth. Arsenal, meanwhile, have been far from a top-four or even a top-six side in that period - they rank 10th over the past 10 matches, behind even Norwich and Swansea.

Sunderland's form under O'Neill indicates they are underestimated at win odds of [3.65] against Arsenal. Their only defeats for the new manager have been on the road, against Tottenham and Chelsea, and they are clearly a top-half side on merit, even if we accept they are not really Champions League material.

Arsenal's form against top-half sides is patchy at best. Overall they have won four and lost six out of 11 in that category, with two wins and four defeats out of seven on the road. Sunderland, meanwhile, have won three and lost two out of five at home to top-half teams, but it is notable that the wins were for O'Neill (all to nil) and the defeats for Steve Bruce, his predecessor.

While it is sensible to downgrade Sunderland's form a little, the recent statistical evidence is that Saturday's match is more even than the odds indicate. Arsenal's 5-3 win at Chelsea is their only success away to a team placed as high as Sunderland and they rank only 11th on away form, with the third-highest goals against on the road.

The Gunners look poor favourites and solid Sunderland rate a decent bet off +0&+0.5 on the Asian handicap at [2.04].

'Relegation six-pointer' is likely to be the most over-used phrase of the weekend - even more than Jamie Redknapp's liberal sprinklings of 'literally' in his punditry - as Blackburn host QPR, Wigan make the short trip to Bolton and Wolves square up to West Brom in the Black Country derby.

In Redknapp's language, of course, this weekend's three showdowns involving the Premier League's bottom six will be 'literally' six-pointers, but behind the cliché there is more than an element of truth to the importance of relegation clashes.

In the past five seasons, 12 of the 15 relegated teams have been in the bottom three of the 'mini-league' involving the bottom six and the team finishing bottom of that mini-league has gone down each time.

This season Bolton and West Brom are top of the mini-league of the current bottom six, with 10 points apiece from five games. Wolves also have 10 points but have played a game more. QPR have eight points (but have played the most games - seven) and Wigan seven points (from six games).

Blackburn have fared badly with no win from five games (three of which were at home) and it's no wonder they are [1.47] to back in the relegation market.

In this weekend's clashes, the teams to side with appear to be Bolton (only one defeat in five in the mini-league and with most of their home games to come), QPR (who are open to improvement and can exploit Blackburn's home weakness) and West Brom, who have taken four points out of six on the road against other bottom-six teams.

Pick of the stats

Fulham v Stoke

Six of the seven Premier League meetings have had under 2.5 goals

Wolves v West Brom

West Brom have won 11 and lost only three of the last 20 Black Country derbies

Recommendations

Sunderland off +0&+0.5 on the Asian handicap v Arsenal at [2.04]
Bolton to beat Wigan at [2.04]
West Brom off -0 on the Asian handicap v Wolves at [2.10]

Fernando Torres may not be scoring but he's been doing just about everything else right since being a permanent fixture in Chelsea's starting line-up over the past month. But what will happen when an in-form Didier Drogba returns from international...

It looks increasingly likely that Harry Redknapp will be the next England manager after being cleared of evading tax in court on Wednesday morning......

Roman Abramovich watched Chelsea train again on Tuesday, prompting rumours that he is keeping tabs on struggling manager Andre Villas-Boas......

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Middlesbrough v Sunderland: Black Cats to earn Arsenal date

FA Cup / Michael Lintorn / 07 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Martin O'Neill's Sunderland have won four of their last five away games

"Middlesbrough have gone five fixtures without success in all competitions, winning none of their last three at home to sides in their division or higher."

Sunderland will see off out-of-form Middlesbrough at the second time of asking, predicts Michael Lintorn...

Middlesbrough v Sunderland, Wednesday 19:45, ITV1, Match odds: Middlesbrough [4.4], Sunderland [2.04], The Draw [3.5]

Steve Bruce certainly wasn't universally popular on Wearside, so Ellis Short and co can be satisfied with their work in identifying the best available successor, as two months in, boyhood Sunderland fan Martin O'Neill appears incapable of doing any wrong.

He has guided them to seven wins in ten Premier League games, including five in their last six, and up from 18th to eighth, but all that will be overshadowed if he manages to do something even more unlikely: make them a threat in the FA Cup again.

The two-time winners haven't reached the fifth round since the painful experience of losing a semi-final to Millwall in 2003-04, beating just one Football League team in seven years prior to their third-round victory at Peterborough in O'Neill's first FA Cup tie.

Though it was followed by a disappointing 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light, that result suggests that the former Aston Villa boss - who led them to the semi-finals two seasons ago - is on the right track.

Boro have gone five fixtures without success in all competitions, winning none of their last three at home to sides in their division or higher, so with the Black Cats in terrific form, [2.04] is a tasty price on them getting it right at the second attempt.

Sunderland clean sheet

The correlation between Middlesbrough's slump and their recent struggle to score is clear to see, Marvin Emnes' only goal in three months coming against Shrewsbury, Lucas Jutkiewicz yet to open his account and Scott McDonald primarily netting on his travels.

The consequence is a pitiful tally of four strikes in their last seven matches at the Riverside Stadium and successive blanks there. It's a record that Sunderland's defence will be hopeful of prolonging, having conceded just twice in six encounters. They are [2.6] to keep a clean sheet and [3.15] to triumph to nil.

Best Bet: Sunderland to win @ [2.04]
Other Recommended Bet: Sunderland to win to nil @ [2.15]

Michael Lintorn is backing Blackpool to maintain their current form when they travel to Hillsborough for an FA Cup fourth-round replay with Sheffield Wednesday......

Michael Lintorn sees a link between Millwall's drop down the table and their results against the top sides which doesn't bode well for an FA Cup fourth-round replay at Southampton......

We're going through a time where no manager seems to just accept a referee's decison and everyone refuses to just get on with the game. There may be repercusions to this weekend's FA Cup action and any complaints and appeals...

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Opta Stats: Stoke v Sunderland

Opta / Michael Lintorn / 02 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones will want to start against his former club

Home advantage tends to be everything in this fixture, suggesting that Stoke will halt Sunderland's revival under Martin O'Neill...

None of the seven Premier League meetings between Sunderland and Stoke has ended as an away win, with six wins for the home side and a draw.

Stoke have won the last four home games against Sunderland, all by a single goal margin.

Sunderland have drawn none of their last nine Premier League away games, winning three and losing six.

Stoke have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven Premier League games at the Britannia Stadium and won none of the last three (D2 L1).

Stoke have managed just 33 shots on target in 11 Premier League home games, fewer than any other team.

Stoke have fired in fewer shots on target than any other Premier League team (59).

The Potters have won just one of their last seven Premier League matches (W1 D3 L3).

Stoke have only scored in the first half of one of their last eight league matches.

Stoke have scored the highest percentage of goals from set pieces (57%) in the Premier League.

33% of the goals Sunderland have conceded have come from headers, a league high percentage, while Stoke have shipped a league low 11% headed goals.

Liverpool have hit form recently and are even able to welcome Luis Suarez back on Monday night - will they halt Tottenham's title bid?...

Chelsea's home record hasn't been great this season, however after tripping up leaders Manchester City in December, they will be hopeful of causing Manchester United trouble......

Aston Villa were humiliated on their last visit to Tyneside, but will have an opportunity to claim revenge in front of the cameras on Sunday lunchtime......

Fulham have been a bit of a bogey team for Manchester City in recent seasons - will they be the ones to end the Premier League leaders' perfect home record?...

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Opta Stats: Arsenal v Sunderland

Opta / Michael Lintorn / 12 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

Steve Bruce is one of the few bosses to have been criticised as much as Arsene Wenger this season

The Opta trends indicate that Arsenal will begin climbing the table with three points against Sunderland on Sunday, but don't expect a big scoreline...

There have only been eight goals scored in the last seven Premier League matches between Arsenal and Sunderland.

Arsenal have won seven and drawn three of their 10 home Premier League matches against Sunderland and the Black Cats have failed to score in their last three visit to the Emirates.

Only one of the 13 goals Sunderland have scored against Arsenal in the Premier League era has been netted in the first half.

Robin van Persie has scored 21 goals in 24 Premier League games in 2011 and three in three home appearances against Sunderland.

Arsenal have won just four of their last 18 Premier League matches (W4 D7 L7).

The Gunners have kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium, including one in a 0-0 draw with Sunderland in March.

No team with fewer than eight points after seven games has finished in the top four in the Premier League era - highest was 5th (3 teams).

Sunderland's clean sheet last season at the Emirates was one of just four in their last 23 Premier League matches.

Since the start of February, Sunderland have only once gone two league games without defeat.

Arsenal have conceded 16 goals so far this season, more than in any season since 1963-64 when they had shipped 20 after seven matches.

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Premier League Betting: Sunderland v Spurs

Premier League / Frank Gregan / 11 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

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"If the game pans out to be an end-to-end type of game then there's every chance it will be a high scoring affair and rather than taking a shade better than odds against on over 2.5 goals I suggest you look at the [3.8] available on over 3.5 goals and trade out if we get a couple of early strikes. "

This a big game for two sides who are close to each other in the table and haven't lost hope of still qualifying for the Champions League. It could just turn out to be a high-scoring affair, says Frank Gregan.

Sunderland V Tottenham - Premier League Betting Preview.

Kick Off 17:30, Saturday 12th February live on ESPN.

This is a vital game for both clubs. Seventh placed Sunderland come into it on the back of two successive league defeats and if they are to get on the tails of the top five they need to win this game. Defeat would leave the Black Cats 10 points behind Spurs whilst a win would close the gap to four.

Spurs come into this game on the back of two straight wins and will be hoping to leapfrog fourth placed Chelsea, who aren't in action until Monday. They could also get to within two points of third placed Manchester City and have a game in hand should the Sky Blues lose in the early kick off at Old Trafford.

The Stadium of Light is not a happy hunting ground for Harry Redknapp's men. They haven't won there in their last five visits, having lost three and drawn two. Steve Bruce will continue to be without the services of the injured Fraizer Campbell, Danny Welbeck and Michael Turner but goalkeeper Craig Gordon should be fit despite having to withdraw from Scotland's squad in midweek.

Tottenham's away form is sound, they are one of only four teams in the league that has won more on the road than they have lost. Ledley King (groin) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle)will miss out for Spurs and Gareth Bale (back) is a doubt.

Match Odds: Sunderland [2.84] Tottenham [2.82] The Draw [3.35]

The market reflects the perceived closeness of this contest and a case could be for all three outcomes. Given Sunderland's solid home form this term and Tottenham's poor record at the venue it's tempting to recommend Sunderland but recently they've allowed their standards to slip. They've lost to Chelsea, got out of jail with a stoppage time equaliser in the local derby against Newcastle and crashed out of the FA Cup against Notts County in their last three home matches.

Spurs are improving all the time under Harry Redknapp but are still capable of putting in performances that make their supporters want to hide behind the sofa. The debacle at Fulham in the FA Cup a couple of weeks ago was a case in point and with a Champions League tie coming up on Tuesday in Milan, there's every chance they might be distracted.

This game could well be an open contest and waiting until the first goal is scored and laying the side that has taken the lead at [1.6] or less In-Play is the recommendation.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

Both these sides are in the bottom four of the Over 2.5 goals table. Indeed, Sunderland are rock bottom with only four of their 13 home matches yielding a three or more goals aggregate. 'Unders' is consequently favourite at [1.9] with overs priced at [2.1] but given that Sunderland have conceded seven goals in their last two matches, overs at the bigger price looks to be the value.

Over/Under 3.5 Goals

If the game pans out to be an end-to-end type of game then there's every chance it will be a high scoring affair and rather than taking a shade better than odds against on over 2.5 goals I suggest you look at the [3.8] available on over 3.5 goals and trade out if we get a couple of early strikes.

Tottenham to Win from Behind

Sunderland have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side in the league this season and Spurs have recovered more points when trailing than any other team. That makes the [14.0] that should be attainable on Spurs to win from behind a feasible scenario.

Best Bet : Back over 3.5 goals at [3.8]
Other Recommendation: Lay the first team to score In-Play at [1.6] or lower.

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